Week Two Top Performances: Class of 2023

Not to be outdone by the senior class, the Class of 2023 went off in every facet of the game in Week Two! We have 20 athletes to spotlight and breakdown in today’s Top Performers article. Reminder, to be included in these weekly articles make sure that you tag @MJ_NFLDraft or @PrepRedzoneWI. Rushing, passing, receiving, defense, special teams, it’s all right here! These are names to know for the rest of the season, and next season! Let’s get it started! [player_tooltip player_id="104359" first="Zander" last="Rockow"], ATH- Eau Claire Regis Stat Line: 5 Carries, 57 Yards, 2 TDs, 4 Tackles Zander is an imposing presence on the football field. The 6’ 220 lbs ATH is so physically and athletically gifted that he is able to take over games with his play on both sides of the ball. As a ball carrier, all you have to do is watch the first play of his week two highlights to get an idea of how he plays. He has the power and contact balance to dominante between the tackles, and then he also has the body control and agility to make defenders miss when he decides not to run right through them. This week also gave us a look into his devastating blocking ability as he tossed defenders to the ground, and easily drove LBs out of running lanes.. On defense, Rockow will be an LB prospect, but right now he plays DL for Regis. His first step quickness allowed him to quickly shoot his gap, or cross linemen’s faces and create a lot of disruption in the backfield. Check out the film! Especially the opening carry! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12894067/612c1bf34bb2d80b64bdcaa3">Zander’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="31388" first="Drew" last="Wilson"], LB- Homestead Stat Line: N/A Drew is looking like Wisconsin’s next new age LB prospect. The 6’1" 208 lbs ’backer brings the three down abilities needed to be a consistent impact player. The part of that three down ability where Wilson separates himself is in pass coverage. His comfort out in space and easy movement skills paired with the awareness and vision to read the QB and feel receivers entering his area allowed him to put himself in position to make plays against the pass including grabbing an INT to seal the victory with :22 remaining. Despite weighing only 208 lbs, Wilson has film proving that he has the strength to defeat blocks and get into the running lane. Wilson is in the midst of a breakout season, and it’s been contributing to the team’s success. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15027039/612c1b9bbed6a309c0793491">Drew’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="104375" first="August" last="Maurer"], DL- Hortonville Stat Line: 5 Total Tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 Sacks For the second week in a row August lived in the offensive backfield as he wreaked havoc against the passing and rushing game. For the second week in a row, August also secured two sacks. The 6’4" 225 lbs junior edge defender has proven he can have the same impact out of a 2 point and 3 point stance keeping the door open on all uses at the next level. The Hortonville product is just scratching the surface on his potential as well. The attributes are evident, though. He has the required athleticism/strength combo to be able to set and rush the edge. He has shown that he can play with his hands, but that’s where the most potential can be met. As he increases his hand usage and effectiveness, you can expect another big jump. The production is already there. This is going to be a name to know among edge defenders in the Class of 2023. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13021185/612c24434deba104700e81db">August’s Week Two Highlights</a> Deven Soerens, LB- Cedar Grove- Belgium Stat Line: 11 Total Tackles, 1 TFL Deven was around the ball all night in week two as he piled up double digit tackles. He did it while being asked to lineup at MLB, OLB, and out in the slot. Deven didn’t pile up any sacks this week, but he was able to get pressure when he was allowed to rush off the edge. His solid first step and ability to swipe OL’s hands down to get past them got him into the backfield. I also liked the range he showed off. He was able to cover his curl to flats zone and pursue down the field with success. We also got a look at his ability to shed blocks right as the ball carrier hit the hole; timing it up just right so he could make the tackle for minimal gains. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13491022/612c02230dc0160ae4d2f1cd">Deven’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="31392" first="Najeh" last="Mitchell"], RB- West De Pere Stat Line: 23 Carries, 126 Yards, 1 TD, 6 Receptions, 102 Yards, 3 TDs The 5’9" 170 lbs back has continued his electric and productive start to the season. His instincts are at an elite level. It seems like he always knows where the green grass is, plays without hesitation, and can always create something out of nothing. His catching skills make him a dangerous weapon in the screen game as he does a great job of allowing his blocks to set up and letting those instincts take him to huge gains or the endzone. His play speed is also off the charts. I mentioned last week, but the 4.38 timed 40 translates to the field as he easily pulls away from defenders in the open field. Najeh’s playmaker ability is impossible to overlook. He makes the special plays that keep his team in games, like big runs or long receptions when his team is behind in the down and distance. Najeh is shaping himself into a dangerous weapon that should be highly sought after at the next level. The threat he could be as a change of pace/third down back and/or slot receiver would terrify defenses. Big fan of this dude! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14182148/612bb1681761cc08ec0d1a95">Najeh’s Week Two Highlights</a> Gabe Egan, ATH- Cedar Grove- Belgium Stat Line: 6 Carries, 16 Yards, 1 TD, 2 Receptions, 35 Yards, 4 Total Tackles, 2 INTs, 1 Pick Six, 1 KO Return TD What a productive night for the CG-B playmaker! He was able to turn his roughly 11 touches on offense, defense, and special teams into three scores. The instincts jump out right away when watching through the film as he was able to always find the running lane and utilize his blockers to give himself space to work with. On defense, Gabe plays a deep third in cover three. I like how well it fits him as he is able to keep everything in front of him, read the play, and then react quickly. On offense, Egan relies more on his raw athleticism to quickly get to space, haul in the passes, and then let his instincts take over. This was my first exposure to Gabe. Definitely worth following going forward. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13490939/612bcf0ad21b020510f093fd">Gabe’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="31399" first="Jackson" last="Flottmeyer"], QB- La Crosse Aquinas Stat Line: 11/14, 298 Yards, 6 TDs The 6’5" 215 lbs ’23 QB had a breakout game in week two that should help put him on the map in the recruiting world. Stats don’t tell the whole story of this performance, although they are a solid indicator. Flottmeyer played with impressive spot on accuracy in the short, intermediate, and deep levels of the field. He understood the leverage that DBs were playing with and placed the ball where it needed to be to take advantage of the leverage. I was also really impressed with the off platform throws that Jackson made. He is a big kid, so being able to control his mechanics while throwing on the run isn’t always easy. Jackson was able to continue his spot on accuracy even while on the move, and in awkward positions. Lastly, Jackson shown a consistent ability to drive the ball on his deeper throws. He made a couple 30 yard completions where he didn’t have to put any air under it. Intriguing prospect for sure! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13003376/612a32c7041ded0b44eeade5">Jackson’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="104582" first="Colin" last="O’Neil"], ATH- Cashton Stat Line: 10 Carries, 131 Yards, 2 TDs, 2 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT The 5’10" 170 lbs junior RB is an interesting prospect to watch. He has always been able to generate weekly big plays, and this week is no different with his 13 yards per carry average, but he does it without having game breaking speed. Instead, he does it with a mix of vision/instincts, and the patience to allow his blocks set up at the first level. Once he breaks the first level he becomes the mismatch for LBs and DBs trying to bring him down. At the next level, O’Neil looks like he would fit best in the backfield as a first and second down back. Check him out for yourself! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11915628/612ba4fcbd6a8b06a48f662c">Colin’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="31430" first="Colin" last="Boyarski"], ATH- Altoona Stat Line: 25 Carries, 215 Yards, 2 TDs, 2 TFLs, 1 Sack, 1 FF The 2020 All Conference LB picked up right where he left off on defense. Colin plays fast and downhill as he quickly diagnoses plays and fills through his gap. He closes quickly on the ball and is a very reliable tackler in space. Colin also shown to be an effective blitzer from the ILB position. His burst gets him through the line unhindered and his closing speed again allows him to make the play. On offense, the 5’10" 180 lbs FB is an aggressive, north-south runner. That same downhill attacking play style you see on defense comes out on offense as well. Aside from a slight lateral movements, Colin doesn’t waste time juking or hesitating. It’s full steam ahead when he gets the ball. Boyarski is definitely a tone setter for the Altoona team on both sides of the ball. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12992059/612a6e71b3c97a08088c1de0">Boyarski’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="104491" first="Ben" last="Kuenkel"], QB- Altoona Stat Line: 2/2, 53 Yards, 2 TDs, 4 Carries, 41 Yards We are two weeks into the season, and it’s becoming clear that Ben only throws TDs. Both pass attempts in week two went for scores after similar success in week one. Where 5’10" 175 lbs QB/ATH really stands out is as a ball carrier, and as a decision maker. In the Altoona offense, Kuenkel is responsible for a lot of fakes, reads, and the usual ball handling requirements of a team that plays with some option run game. Through two weeks Ben has excelled in the area, and he has also proven to have the athleticism to be a threat with his own legs. He is shifty between the tackles and has solid straight line speed in space. Check him out. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12992042/612a828d9681220a1ce09d3b">Ben’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="146547" first="Thomas" last="Paasch"], OL- Green Bay Southwest Stat Line: N/A They only got to play the first half due to weather, but Thomas was able to put together good film in week two. The 6’6’’ 290 lbs OT definitely has the size that catches your eyes instantly. With that size comes the questions about body control and athleticism. Paasch’s week two film answers those questions. Paasch moves well and flashes the ability to be light on his feet while maintaining a wide, strong base. He plays with good knee bend and ankle flexibility allowing him that ability to move with relative ease. Thomas’ week two also shows us a quick glimpse of his power while down blocking and combo blocking. He can create a lot of movement in the trenches in both those situations. Lastly, I really liked his hands in the clips where you could see them up close. His initial punch hit on the chest plate and he was able to latch on and allow his movement to keep him square so that holding wasn’t a concern. I expect Thomas to be a rising name as we go through the next year. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13020292/612a5eea041ded0b44eed7ea">Thomas’ Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="104384" first="Matthew" last="Miller"], QB/ATH- Fall River Stat Line: 6/11, 65 Yards, 7 Carries, 53 Yards, 1 Tackle Miller is an exciting athlete. The 6’1" 190 lbs prospect lines up at QB, but based on what his week two film shows it might be better to scout him as an RB because he really shined with his legs. His instincts stood out as he was always able to find daylight whether the pocket was collapsing or he was on a designed run. Matthew’s avoid ability highlighted by his foot quickness to make defenders miss in space caught my eye on a few snaps of his film. Matthew definitely has the play speed to play a position outside the QB position. You can see it on his plays where he breaks contain and races down the sideline. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9739296/6129bc08d21c6708e0b583c3">Matthew’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="104497" first="Ben" last="Vallafskey"], RB- Appleton West Stat Line: N/A Appleton West has an explosive weapon in their backfield in the 5’10" 175 lbs junior RB. His acceleration and burst get him to his deadly top speed in no time. That burst allows him to turn the slightest slivers of green grass into huge gains. His two weeks of film are full of examples as he carves up defenses right up the middle. His ability to run without hesitation further emphasizes his burst. If defenders are out of position Ben doesn’t give them a chance to correct themselves. His vision to find cutback lanes also make him very dangerous as he has no issue cutting back across the field if he finds a lane. The playmaker has also shown the ability to make the unusual plays, like turning quick inside runs into long TD runs. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12744007/612be82b0dc0160ae4d2cf27">Ben’s First Two Weeks</a> [player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"], RB- Rufus King Stat Line: 23 Carries, 119 Yards, 3 TDs We have covered the pass catchers at Rufus King quite a bit over the past year, but they are also home to an explosive junior ATH prospect in [player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"]. The 6’ 170 lbs athlete has next level speed with a timed 4.5 40 that shows up on the field. White is a versatile offensive weapon. In week two he played RB, WR, and some wildcat QB. All with success. While also having all the instincts and agility traits you hope for in a weapon like White that excells in space, Nate also has the contact balance to be able to run between the tackles and make it through the first tackle attempt. He also is a reliable pass catcher that you can trust splitting out wide. At the next level, Nate should be considered for several positions. He could play WR, third down back, or a change of pace back/ gadget player role. Anything that could get him in space with the ball. Check him out. Potential diamond in the rough after King wasn’t able to play in 2020. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12907661/612ba86c4205bb0868640b43">Nate’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="157794" first="Mason" last="Keyes"], QB- DeForest Stat Line: 17/27, 291 Yards, 4 TDs, 3 Carries, 23 Yards, 1 TD What a night for the DeForest signal caller. Mason demonstrated a complete game at the QB position on the way to a dominating performance in week two. Everything you could want to see showed up in the film from the game. He had the arm strength to drive passes to every level of the field with velocity. He demonstrated touch as he dropped passes in a bucket over defenders down the field. His spot on accuracy shined on every completion as each one hit his receiver right in stride. We also got to see Keyes make plays in the pocket while facing pressure. He was able to maneuver and deliver passes off platform with accuracy. Add in the speed to be a threat on the ground and you get one of the best QB performances of the week and a rising player in a very talented Class of 2023 QBs. I was very impressed with this week’s tape. [embed]https://twitter.com/masonmkeyes/status/1431997896040357888[/embed] [player_tooltip player_id="191982" first="Sawyer" last="Lichtensteiger"], RB/DL- West Bend East Stat Line: 1 Reception, 8 Yards, 4 Carries, 47 Yards, 1 TD, 12 Tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 Sack, 1 PD The two way athlete shined on the defensive side of the ball in week two. The disruptive play was scattered through the tape. Sawyer consistently penetrated the line of scrimmage and even when he didn’t make the play was able to effect the result of the play. Sawyer plays the DE position while only checking in at 6’1" 210 lbs, yet he finds so much success because of his explosive quickness at the snap of the ball. His competitive drive and his ability to position himself to only have to beat half a man instead of taking on a whole lineman allows him to not be held up at the line. Lastly, his hand use kept showing up. He did a good job to get the initial punch to the chest of the OL and then use quick hands to clear the OL hands. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12952252/612a8dc6a680960b003afa3e">Sawyer’s Week Two Highlights</a> Brady Foster, QB- Waukesha West Stat Line: 11/24, 180 Yards, 2 TDs, 12 Carries, 114 Yards, 1 TD Waukesha West has a solid dual threat weapon at QB this season. The 6’2" 190 lbs athlete uses his touch and ability to throw on the run to win through the air. Brady’s film shows him making accurate roll out passes, delivering passes with pressure in his face, and him dropping the ball between defenders at different levels to his receivers. On the ground, Foster really excells. He has the instincts for daylight and cutback lanes of a seasoned RB, and he has the speed to be threat to take it all the way. Brady also runs with the power and contact balance to pick up yards after contact and run through some good shots from defenders. Definitely an athlete to keep eyes on as the season goes on. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12745802/612a80c9b3c97a08088c2907">Brady’s Week Two Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="104436" first="Reese" last="Thompson"], LB- Hudson Stat Line: N/A It’s only a few plays, but the explosiveness and flexibility shown in these clips are must watch! The 6’ 210 lbs OLB comes off the line of scrimmage like he is shot out of a cannon. Then his impressive body control takes over as he weaves, and bends his way past offensive players trying to land a block on him. The closing speed jumps off the tape as well, and translates into powerful contact when he delivers a hit. Potentially a big time diamond in the rough here out of Hudson. Check out the film for yourself! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14625727/6129ce18d45ee90520657c89">Reese’s Week Two Highlights</a> Cortez LeGrant Jr., RB- Sun Prairie Stat Line: 144 All Purpose Yards, 2 TDs, 65 Yard Average Per KO Return Sun Prairie is home to a ton of special athletes, and they do a great job of putting those athletes in positions to perform to their best abilities. One of those athletes perfectly put into their position is Cortez at kick returner. His straight line speed, vision to see lanes and blocks setting up, as well as his burst put him in position to be able to break off big returns that result in 6 points or his offense being perfectly set up. He had one of each of those types of returns in week two. He also got some work at RB where those same traits shined again. His vision quickly found the hole and then his ability to get to top speed in no time left no doubt that he was taking it the distance. Keep an eye on this exciting playmaker! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12939030/6129197590ef810a78ddbabb">Cortez’s Week Two Highlights</a>